I had the privilege of working with Mary Jane in the Adult Services Department of the Cedar Mill Community Library for more than twenty years. Mary Jane - always smiling, open, and generous with her time and expertise – was a dedicated reference librarian. She loved working with her colleagues at Cedar Mill and throughout Washington County Cooperative Library Services, offering her support and skills wherever needed. I learned much from Mary Jane and over the years, we two developed a bond of mutual admiration and respect for each other. When I arrived at CML in 1992, Mary Jane had been developing an exceptional adult reference collection for many years, the quality of which was recognized by her fellow librarians in Washington and Multnomah Counties. I was extremely fortunate, in my first position as a professional librarian, to have a first-rate reference collection to work with and to have Mary Jane as a guide. It never failed to amaze me how she could pick up any reference resource and turn to the exact page where the answer to a patron’s informational need would be found. 

Mary Jane often regaled me with recaps of her weekend adventures with her daughters. She told of going to football games in Seattle with Cheryl, reveling in the details of Jan’s experiences working in the heart of Washington DC, and exploring the local countryside on long drives with Suzanne which always included discovering a new place to have a marvelous lunch. Mary Jane delighted in returning from her adventures with historic, geographic, or cultural trivia that enhanced her knowledge at the reference desk. 

I was lucky to know her, and I’ll always remember Mary Jane with affection and gratitude for the years we worked side by side.

With heartfelt sympathy,
Lynne Erlandson

This was when we took Mary Jane and my mom to a nearby piano concert. She had a wonderful time and was so elegant. That may be my favorite word for her if I had to choose one. 

I appreciate the free meals with her and the ladies at Laurel Park and will always remember her birthday celebration there. She was a celebrity.  And the gin and tonic was pretty nice as well. ;>)

Enjoy the reunion in heaven with Sue, Mrs Joyce. We will all see u two soon. 

Mary Jane not only welcomed me to the library as a new hire, but also to Oregon. She loved exploring Oregon with her daughters and loved telling stories about her family. A true Steel Magnolia, I will always remember her graciousness, her generosity, her intelligence, and her wicked sense of humor!  Oh, my, we shared so many laughs!  My sympathy to her daughters and their families.  Rest in peace, Mary Jane. 

Mary Jane was one of the first librarians at Cedar Mill LIbrary.  She served countless users  and answered thousands of reference questions from 1980 to 2009.  She built a reference collection unmatched by other libraries of Cedar Mill's size.   What we all remember most is her sense of humor and how she put everyone at ease. 

OBITUARY

Mary Jane Joyce

28 December, 1936 – 15 June, 2023

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services